Review: Sonic Generations (PS3)

I start the console, hear the familiar cry of “SEGA!” and then bliss, as I hear an updated but still recognizable Sonic theme song. I press start, and find myself returned not just to the levels of the past, but that feeling of skill and response that I developed as a child for these games. I’m in heaven.

If that introduction wasn’t a clue, I love this game. I’ve been playing Sonic games since the first one, and this not only feels like a justification of my faith in the series, but a celebration of the franchise. I haven’t felt like this since I was a kid, and only recently felt it when playing Sonic Unleashed or Sonic Colors. One of the best things is just how easy it is to pick up and play, and even when I hit a challenging part, it’s just a matter of time and learning to figure out what to do. In other words… it’s a Sonic game. Pick up, play, and learn as you go through the learning curve.

The story basically is that a strange creature attacks Sonic in the past, and in the present when he’s celebrating his birthday with his friends. The two Sonics both end up in a world made from pieces of their past. As the Sonics race through, they restore the space-time thing and also rescue their friends. Yeah, it’s a simple plot, but the cinematics play out humorously and have plenty of in-jokes for fans.

The levels are beautiful to watch as they zip by, and the gameplay is tight. Classic Sonic’s levels are good old sidescrolling momentum based platforming, and Modern Sonic continues the high speed action that has become the new ideal for the recent games. After completing the levels, you can do any of the extra challenges to help unlock the boss battles. Completing all the levels, bosses and the rival battles will help unlock the final boss. The levels chosen are a fun mix, and it’s great seeing levels from various games get both the classic and more recent game treatment (Crisis City from the much-hated 2006 game is actually fun when it’s not a rushed, glitched mess, like it was in the game it appeared in).

This is just fun. Pure, unadulterated fun. I started playing it, and just couldn’t stop, and by the time I did, I actually had beaten the game. That is the only downside to this game. Its main story doesn’t take a long time. I beat it in less than a day, but loved every minute of it and keep coming back for more. The other fun thing is the custom skills loadouts you can do, making it easy to jazz up your playthroughs (hello, Super Sonic!). And given how Sega in the past has kept releasing DLC levels for Sonic games, it’s a fair bet that more will be on the way.

Sonic Generations is not a grim, gritty game, nor some kind of massive game of the year attempt. What it is…is fun. A pure celebration of classic gaming with plenty of promise for the future. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to attempt to beat my record on Green Hill Zone. Sonic still rocks after 20 years. Keep running, Big Blue.